Takea risk.
I’ve seen so many funny English translations on T-shirts while here in Asia. It’s a reliable source of entertainment for me and my team. But this one struck a cord with me.
The tiny body within the T-shirt belongs to Hope, one of the children with special needs here at BYKOTA House. Hope is one of the four children I work with every morning, and she’s one of the reasons I’ve fallen in love with ministry this month. Where most people may look at her and see her disability and the way her body is different, I see a precious child of God.
I see eyes that sparkle with intelligence and a sense of humor, even though she struggles to communicate even her most basic needs. I see someone who loves to laugh and will do the most ridiculous things to share a laugh with me. I see a child that is starved for one-on-one attention, for back rubs, for hugs, for eye contact. I see an individual with an amazing personality, who wants to own a room at all times (she is a preteen after all), who throws the most incredible diva tantrums I’ve ever seen, but who also possess this extremely sweet spirit and a hunger to make friends and please people. I see a person, who God created to be exactly as she is now, different abilities and all. God loves her so much, and He called me here this month to show her how much He loves her through me.
So many times people tell me what an amazing person I am for loving on and working with kids who have special needs. God makes me amazing and gives me the eyes to see these kids for who they are, not what they can do. On my own, I couldn’t do it. Yes, God has given me gifts and passions that allow me to work easily with these kids and to find incredible joy in doing it, but I’m nothing special. I’m nothing special because God didn’t gift only Vallory Moss with these abilities. He’s given a lot of people the gifts to work with people who have special needs, some of whom may not realize they have these gifts because they haven’t interacted with these people before.
Regardless of whether God has gifted you in this area, however, He ALWAYS will gift you with the ability to love people who are different than you. He will always give you His love, patience, kindness, and gentleness to interact with people of all ages, races, abilities, and walks of life. But it requires something of you. It requires you to be willing to love people even when it’s uncomfortable It may require you to look into the eyes of someone who intimidates you, who invokes your pity, who needs you far more than you need them. It may require you to take a risk and love unconditionally. So “takea risk!” Ask God to give you His love for people…ALL people. You may be surprised who He brings into your path.
****In mid-December, Cambodia will experience some unusually cold weather from a cold front moving through from Siberia. The temperatures will be in the mid-50’s to low 60’s. While this may not sound too bad, it is very cold to Cambodians, who are used to a tropical climate. The BYKOTA children with special needs are especially at risk, as they are thinner than the other children and cannot communicate when they are cold. BYKOTA is currently in need of some extra funds to purchase blankets and some warm clothes for the children. If you feel led to support them in this way, visit www.orphanaid.org to find out how to donate! Thank you!
